Cultural differences in language are always fun. The Queen's English isn't the same. So as I learn (and hopefully not put my foot in my mouth) here are some of the differences in word usage:
British - American
advert - commercial or advertisement
apothecary - drug store/pharmacy
aubergine - eggplant
bedsit - like a studio apt but smaller
bin - waste basket, garbage can
biscuits - cookies
bonnet - hood (of car)
Boot - trunk
bubble and squeak - mashed potatoes and cabbage
braces - suspenders
breve - double note
caravan - motorhome/trailer
cardigan - button sweater
car park - parking lot
carriage - train
cheesed off - upset
chemist - pharmacy
chips - french fries
chippy- fish and chip shop
courgette - zucchini
coach - bus
cooker - stove
crisps - chips
crockery - dishes
crotchet - quarter note
cutlery - silverware
diversion - detour
demisemiquaver - thirty second note
drawing pins - tacks
dummy - binky, pacifier
faculty - college (i.e. the faculty of Humanities)
fish slice - slotted spatula
flat - apartment
flatmates - roommates
fly tipping - dumping things where you shouldn't
fresher - first year/ freshman
full stop - period (.)
garage - (stress on the first syllable) gas station
garden - yard
half(number)- so like half 12 meaning 12:30
"haych" - h
hob - stove
hoover - vacuum (as in I need to hoover the lounge)
ice lolly- popsicle
invigilator - test proctor
jab - shot (like a flu jab)
jelly - jello (doughnuts are filled with jam.....or custard)
jumper - hoodie/ sweater
knickers - underwear
lift - elevator
liquidizer - blender
Lorry - truck (large trucks)
lounge - living room
matron - a head nurse
meringue - divinity
module - class
motorway - freeway
mucking about - messing around
nappy - diaper
one off - one time only
overleaf - on the backside (like of a piece of paper)
pants - underpants
parcel - package
pavement - sidewalk
petrol- gas
pinafore - jumper
post - mail
pram - buggy or stroller
pudding - dessert
pull over - sweater
push chair- stroller
quaver - eighth note
query - question
queue - line
quid - £
rapeseed oil - canola oil
return - round trip
reversing - backing up
ring road - bypass
rocket - arugula
royal icing - fondant
rubber - eraser
rubbish - garbage/trash
rucksack - backpack
rug - blanket
Satnav- GPS
scone - biscuit
semibreve - whole note
semi-detached - duplex
semiquaver - sixteenth note
serviette - napkin
shan't - won't
sister - a nurse
slip road - freeway ramp
smart dress - dressed up, Sunday best
soft cheese - cream cheese
spring onion - green onion
supply teacher - substitute
sweets - candy
tap -faucet
tea - can mean a meal
tea towel - dish towel
terrace houses - row homes like in San Francisco where you share walls with your neighbors.
tip - dump
the loo - the bathroom
tick - check (please tick the box)
tin - can
tin opener - can opener
Tipp-ex - white out
to let - for rent
top up - add money to (like a bus card, or phone plan)
torch - flashlight
track suit - sweats
trainers - tennis shoes, sneakers, athletic shoes
trolley - shopping cart
Trousers - pants
Tuck shop - candy store
tutor - professor
Uni - university
vest - undershirt
washing up - doing dishes
wellies - rubber rain boots
windscreen - windshield
worktop - counter
write a test - take a test
zapper - clicker (used in college classes)
zed - z
common words or phrases:
bits and bobbles
bless
brilliant
come again?
cheers
get along with it
good good good
in a bit
lovely
my lady
my love
poorly
right
see you just now
shame
sort it out
yep
you ok there?
words pronounced differently:
aluminum - aluminium /ˌæljʊˈmɪnɪəm/
expletive /ɪkˈspliːtɪv/
garage /ˈɡærɪdʒ/
laboratory /ləˈbɒrətərɪ/
leisure /ˈlɛʒə/
pasta /ˈpæstə/
Renaissance /rəˈneɪsəns/
schedule /ˈʃɛdjuːl/
Spelling:
centre
cheque
colour
enquire
enrol
honour
-ise (instead of -ize)
learnt
practise
programme
realise
theatre
tyre
sopha
(will add more as I go. :))
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